Kneecap, a Northern Irish rap group, has won its legal battle against the UK government following the withdrawal of an arts grant. The £14,250 initially granted to the group was blocked by then government business and trade minister Kemi Badenoch on the grounds that the group “oppose the United Kingdom itself”. In court, Kneecap branded the decision “unlawful and procedurally unfair”. The court has now awarded the group the same amount of money they were originally granted.
Badenoch and her department were accused by Kneecap of trying to silence them, a claim that the band has now announced to be a failure. The band plans to split the money between two charities in Northern Ireland working with Catholic and Protestant communities to create a better future for young people. The government spokesperson stated that the decision was made not to contest the band’s case any further as it was not in the public interest and could potentially prove expensive for taxpayers.
Originally, Kneecap applied for a grant that was intended to support UK-registered artists in global markets in December 2023. The group initially qualified for the grant, but it was subsequently denied due to an intervention by the Department for Business and Trade. This was due to the band’s political lyrics and general outlook, which features themes relating to Irish republicanism and opposition to British rule in Northern Ireland.
Kneecap has been involved in many controversies related to their music, marketing, and politically charged lyrics. The group has caused a fuss by using Troubles-related imagery, and one of their most popular albums is titled “Get Your Brits Out”, which is essentially a parody rap featuring prominent members of the Democratic Unionist Party. Despite the criticisms, the group has stated that their motivations for taking the case were “equality”, a value that they plan to uphold by donating their winnings to local charities
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